Home and garden projects
#1801
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Home and garden projects
One other point about concrete is the value of immediate sealing. Concrete that can be kept wet for 7-10 days after pouring can achieve 50% increase in strength. This in many cases is impractical. If you apply a sealer as soon as set enough to walk on this will seal in the moisture needed for the chemical reaction of “curing”. Plus it will prevent dirt from ruining the appearance. I always seal same day as pouring.
#1802
Re: Home and garden projects
Rebar would be a good option. Other thing to consider instead is fiber mesh in concrete but the most important is thickness of concrete and psi rating. I used 4000 psi which doesn’t cost that much more than 3000 psi. Make it thick 4 inch minimum but I usually go 5 inches. Also important to place appropriate grooves for controlled cracking. I like to overdo it on everything I build so I only have to do it once.
- 4inches deep, 3/8 rebar 2ft on center, rebar doweled in to the existing driveway to 'tie-in', 3000 psi and fiber mesh... control joints a must (my house was built in 1972, and the 2 car driveway has zero control joints... and the cracks to show for it, as well.
The more I think about it, the more I lean towards getting the contractor to do it. How do you get rid of a couple of loads of dirt, anyway??
#1803
Re: Home and garden projects
One other point about concrete is the value of immediate sealing. Concrete that can be kept wet for 7-10 days after pouring can achieve 50% increase in strength. This in many cases is impractical. If you apply a sealer as soon as set enough to walk on this will seal in the moisture needed for the chemical reaction of “curing”. Plus it will prevent dirt from ruining the appearance. I always seal same day as pouring.
Are you a concrete contractor yourself? I was planning on doing some smaller jobs myself (footpath around the side and back) later in the year.
#1804
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Home and garden projects
#1805
Re: Home and garden projects
No I am a retired dentist but have built most of my last two houses myself. The part I didn’t build I researched to the nth degree so as not to rely totally on contractors. You can do a lot of small jobs with the 80 lb ready mix bags. I have done a lot that way. A wheel barrow and a hoe is all you need. Lowes sells some 5/8 or 3/4 diameter steel pins with multiple nail/screw holes for alignment and holding of forms. Even the contractor stuff I build my own forms in most cases. I just made this flower bed last week using ready mix bags and some concrete dye.
I've been steadily collecting concrete finishing tools over the last year (so far only hand tools). I also have two large mixers and I'm waiting for a decently priced bull float with long handle to appear on offerup and I'll be ready to go, as long as it's not too hot to pour. Plan on getting all my mistakes out in areas no one will see (like under the bins).
#1806
Re: Home and garden projects
I've always liked this kind of driveway. Took a few snaps on my walk last night ... Is this a lot more expensive than concrete pour?
And another ...
ETA - these are hillside homes, so I'm guessing the use of 'bricks' or 'tiles' helps deal with the 3D terrain? Come to think of it, how does one deal with concrete on a slope? How do you stop it from 'running' (leveling, succumbing to gravity ...)?
And another ...
ETA - these are hillside homes, so I'm guessing the use of 'bricks' or 'tiles' helps deal with the 3D terrain? Come to think of it, how does one deal with concrete on a slope? How do you stop it from 'running' (leveling, succumbing to gravity ...)?
Last edited by Steerpike; Oct 10th 2020 at 1:51 am.
#1807
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Home and garden projects
I've always liked this kind of driveway. Took a few snaps on my walk last night ... Is this a lot more expensive than concrete pour?
And another ...
ETA - these are hillside homes, so I'm guessing the use of 'bricks' or 'tiles' helps deal with the 3D terrain? Come to think of it, how does one deal with concrete on a slope? How do you stop it from 'running' (leveling, succumbing to gravity ...)?
And another ...
ETA - these are hillside homes, so I'm guessing the use of 'bricks' or 'tiles' helps deal with the 3D terrain? Come to think of it, how does one deal with concrete on a slope? How do you stop it from 'running' (leveling, succumbing to gravity ...)?
#1809
#1810
#1811
Re: Home and garden projects
.... ETA - these are hillside homes, so I'm guessing the use of 'bricks' or 'tiles' helps deal with the 3D terrain? Come to think of it, how does one deal with concrete on a slope? How do you stop it from 'running' (leveling, succumbing to gravity ...)?
My driveway has a portion very sloped. I was going to do the whole drive myself and started with this very sloped part pouring two ten by ten foot sections and later decided to hire out the remaining 100 feet. The trick is to get dry concrete with just enough water to be mixed but a stiff mixture that will not easily run downhill. There is a specification called slump measured in inches which I don’t know details of but the pros specify a certain slump based on pour requirements.
I decided to use some of my excess "at home" time this year to try to deal with the issue of water leaking out of the cuts in the driveway, after heavy rain. Some of the cuts on the steepest part of the drive would leak water for anything from a few hours to as long as three days, after heavy or prolonged rain. It has only ever really been an annoyance, except in winter a few times when it was cold enough for the water to freeze overnight, but I suspect it would have eventually led to cavities and in turn to cracking and collapse. Anywhy, I dug a narrow trench about 70ft long, along the edge of the drive and just wide enough to take a 4" pipe, starting just above the highest "weeper" and carried on down the hill before turning away and into the woods. I have already put the pipe in and covered it with crushed rock but still have to refill the trench and seed it with grass, but this fix is already 100% effective after several heavy storms over the past couple of months. It is amazing to see how much water is running out of the ground for upto a day after a storm - I think the fact that so much water flows and so quickly (I estimate 1-2 gallons/ minute) means that it is draining the water more quickly than when it had to force its way out through the relief cuts.
Last edited by Pulaski; Oct 12th 2020 at 1:53 am.
#1813
Re: Home and garden projects
That definitely looks good, and I like it that you removed the protruding timbers, and squared-up the window lintels (I assume they are decorative anyway) ..... but I think it looks under-dressed without (faux) shutters.
Last edited by Pulaski; Oct 12th 2020 at 1:59 am.
#1814
Re: Home and garden projects
Cheers. That blue was pretty wish washy, especially with the grey trim. This is definitely a little bolder.
Cheers, although I can’t take credit for the work. Scared of heights for starters LOL.
Again, the wife has to take credit for removing the extra timber. I said keep it. Of course, she was right. As for the shutters, we had those in the old house, so I’m sure they will end up being installed in this one. They will have to wait a wee bit though.
Cheers, although I can’t take credit for the work. Scared of heights for starters LOL.
Again, the wife has to take credit for removing the extra timber. I said keep it. Of course, she was right. As for the shutters, we had those in the old house, so I’m sure they will end up being installed in this one. They will have to wait a wee bit though.
#1815